Challenging the Law of Parties!
Dear Distinguished Members of the Texas Legislature,
Today we, the undersigned, come to you with an urgent petition. We hope that you hear our cries for this urgent and just matter. Many of you that read this letter are probably already familiar with this issue and we hope that we will be able to motivate you to act. This issue is regarding the Texas Law of Parties Statute, specifically the application of 7.02(b), and how Texas prosecutors, and Courts, are abusing it. We feel that it is time that this law be attacked and challenged on a grand basis.
We have been winning some great victories against the death penalty with DNA issues, mental retardation standards and the juvenile ruling, but who can deny that many issues still remain? We feel that the Law of Parties should be put at the forefront. Why? Because this system claims that the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst criminals, and for the most heinous crimes; yet there are men on death row who did not kill a single person and in the majority of these Law of Parties cases did not even intend that a life be taken. We are outraged that no group of politicians has stood up to point this out until now! Regardless of what Texas, or the higher courts, has said is allowed in Texas, it does not mean the application of the death penalty in these Law of Parties cases is right. America has had many laws throughout its founding that were not just, but until they were resisted and protested on a large scale they were not repelled. We are asking that you lend us your voice with regard to this issue, by voting in favor of House Bill 304, and House Bill 2267; both of which seek to end the death penalty as a sentencing option for Law of Parties cases.
We further humbly ask you to make an adjustment to these bills by adding in verbiage to make the law retro-active, as there are MANY people who currently sit on death row for murders they did not commit, nor have knowledge of until after the fact. Please do NOT allow Texas to kill more people who are FACTUALLY INNOCENT OF MURDER!
Many people, even beyond the undersigned here, are concerned about this issue and we personally are resolute on our feelings about it. We hope you will share our sentiments as well.
We would like to thank you in advance for your time, attention, and favorable support on these House Bills.
Sincerely,
The undersigned
Dear Distinguished Members of the Texas Legislature,
Today we, the undersigned, come to you with an urgent petition. We hope that you hear our cries for this urgent and just matter. Many of you that read this letter are probably already familiar with this issue and we hope that we will be able to motivate you to act. This issue is regarding the Texas Law of Parties Statute, specifically the application of 7.02(b), and how Texas prosecutors, and Courts, are abusing it. We feel that it is time that this law be attacked and challenged on a grand basis.
We have been winning some great victories against the death penalty with DNA issues, mental retardation standards and the juvenile ruling, but who can deny that many issues still remain? We feel that the Law of Parties should be put at the forefront. Why? Because this system claims that the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst criminals, and for the most heinous crimes; yet there are men on death row who did not kill a single person and in the majority of these Law of Parties cases did not even intend that a life be taken. We are outraged that no group of politicians has stood up to point this out until now! Regardless of what Texas, or the higher courts, has said is allowed in Texas, it does not mean the application of the death penalty in these Law of Parties cases is right. America has had many laws throughout its founding that were not just, but until they were resisted and protested on a large scale they were not repelled. We are asking that you lend us your voice with regard to this issue, by voting in favor of House Bill 304, and House Bill 2267; both of which seek to end the death penalty as a sentencing option for Law of Parties cases.
We further humbly ask you to make an adjustment to these bills by adding in verbiage to make the law retro-active, as there are MANY people who currently sit on death row for murders they did not commit, nor have knowledge of until after the fact. Please do NOT allow Texas to kill more people who are FACTUALLY INNOCENT OF MURDER!
Many people, even beyond the undersigned here, are concerned about this issue and we personally are resolute on our feelings about it. We hope you will share our sentiments as well.
We would like to thank you in advance for your time, attention, and favorable support on these House Bills.
Sincerely,
The undersigned
Dear Distinguished Members of the Texas Legislature,
Today we, the undersigned, come to you with an urgent petition. We hope that you hear our cries for this urgent and just matter. Many of you that read this letter are probably already familiar with this issue and we hope that we will be able to motivate you to act. This issue is regarding the Texas Law of Parties Statute, specifically the application of 7.02(b), and how Texas prosecutors, and Courts, are abusing it. We feel that it is time that this law be attacked and challenged on a grand basis.
We have been winning some great victories against the death penalty with DNA issues, mental retardation standards and the juvenile ruling, but who can deny that many issues still remain? We feel that the Law of Parties should be put at the forefront. Why? Because this system claims that the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst criminals, and for the most heinous crimes; yet there are men on death row who did not kill a single person and in the majority of these Law of Parties cases did not even intend that a life be taken. We are outraged that no group of politicians has stood up to point this out until now! Regardless of what Texas, or the higher courts, has said is allowed in Texas, it does not mean the application of the death penalty in these Law of Parties cases is right. America has had many laws throughout its founding that were not just, but until they were resisted and protested on a large scale they were not repelled. We are asking that you lend us your voice with regard to this issue, by voting in favor of House Bill 304, and House Bill 2267; both of which seek to end the death penalty as a sentencing option for Law of Parties cases.
We further humbly ask you to make an adjustment to these bills by adding in verbiage to make the law retro-active, as there are MANY people who currently sit on death row for murders they did not commit, nor have knowledge of until after the fact. Please do NOT allow Texas to kill more people who are FACTUALLY INNOCENT OF MURDER!
Many people, even beyond the undersigned here, are concerned about this issue and we personally are resolute on our feelings about it. We hope you will share our sentiments as well.
We would like to thank you in advance for your time, attention, and favorable support on these House Bills.
Sincerely,
The undersigned
'With the Medicine Buddha mantra you can liberate numberless sentient beings from oceans of suffering and bring them to enlightenment.' - Lama Zopa. Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha BeKanze Radza Samudgate Soha In the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra, the Medicine Buddha is described as having entered into a state of samadhi called "Eliminating All the Suffering and Afflictions of Sentient Beings." From this samadhi state he spoke the Medicine Buddha Dharani.[1] namo bhagavate bhaiṣajyaguru vaiḍūryaprabharājāya tathāgatāya arhate samyaksambuddhāya tadyathā: oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya-samudgate svāhā. The last line of the dharani is used as the Medicine Buddha's mantra. Medicine Buddha Sutra, as a bodhisattva who made 12 great vows. On achieving Buddhahood, he became the Buddha of the eastern realm of Vaidūryanirbhāsa, or "Pure Lapis Lazuli". The Twelve Vows of the Medicine Buddha upon attaining Enlightenment, according to the Medicine Buddha Sutra[1] are: To illuminate countless realms with his radiance, enabling anyone to become a Buddha just like him. To awaken the minds of sentient beings through his light of lapis lazuli. To provide the sentient beings with whatever material needs they require. To correct heretical views and inspire beings toward the path of the Bodhisattva. To help beings follow the Moral Precepts, even if they failed before. To heal beings born with deformities, illness or other physical sufferings. To help relieve the destitute and the sick. To help women who wish to be reborn as men achieve their desired rebirth. To help heal mental afflictions and delusions. To help the oppressed be free from suffering. To relieve those who suffer from terrible hunger and thirst. To help clothe those who are destitute and suffering from cold and mosquitoes. Arya Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, known as Kuan Yin is the bodhisattva who most embodies compassion. The name Avalokitesvara has its root meaning as "he who observes the sounds of the world". The great vow of Avalokitesvara is to listen to the supplications, and cries for help from those in difficulty in the world and to provide them with aid, whatever expedient means are needed to help people most effectively. Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, an emanation of Amida Buddha's compassion, is the "Regarder of the Cries of the World". Sometimes referred to in the West as the Goddess of Mercy. Prayers for help arise from thousands of hearts, and thousands of prayers are answered by her vow of eternal compassion: Beings in Samsara, who sail the ocean of suffering, She will guide and deliver safely to the ultimate shore of enlightenment Nīlakantha Dhāranī (The Blue Necked Dhāranī) Namo ratna-trayāya (Adoration of the triple Gem) [edit] I. Initial Salutation Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya mahā-sattvāya mahā-kārunikāya (Adoration to the noble Lord who looks down, the enlightened sentient being, the great being, the merciful one!) [edit] II. Name of Avalokiteśvarā Om sarva-bhaya-śodhanāya tasya namaskrtvā imu Ārya-valokite-śvarā tava namo Nīlakantha 2 (Om! Having paid adoration to One who dispels all fears, the noble Avalokiteśvarā, adoration to the blue-necked one!) [edit] III. śloka enunication of the merit of the hrdaya-dhāranī Hrdayam vartayisyāmi sarvārtha-sādhanam śubham 3 ajeyam sarva-bhūtānām bhava-mārga-viśodhakam 4 (I shall enunciate the heart dharani which ensures all purpose, is pure and invincible for all beings, and which purifies the path of existence.) [edit] IV. Dhāranī Tadyathā: Om Ālokādhipati lokātikrānta (Like this: Om! Lord of Effulgence, the World-Transcending One. Ehy mahā-bodhisattva sarpa-sarpa smara smara hrdayam (Come, great bodhisattva, descend, descend. Please remember (smara) my heart dharani. Kuru-kuru karma dhuru-dhuru vijayate mahā-vijayate (Do, do the work. Hold fast, hold fast, Victor, the great Victor) Dhara-dhara dhārinī-rāja cala-cala mama vimalā-mūrtte (Hold on, hold on, King of the Dharani. Move, move onto my spotless image.) Ehi ehi chinda chinda aras pracali vaśa-vaśam pranāśaya (Come, come, the vow, the vow of the admantine king, destroy, destroy every poison.) Hulu-hulu smara hulu-hulu sara-sara siri-siri suru-suru (Quick-quick, please remember, quick-quick. Descend-descend, descend-descend, descend-descend) Bodhiya-bodhiya bodhaya-bodhaya maitriya Nīlakantha [dehi me] darsanam (Being enlightened, being enlightened; enlighten me, enlighten me. Merciful Blue-necked One appear [unto me].) Praharāyamānāya svāhā siddhāya svāhā mahā-siddhāya svāhā siddhayogīśvarāya svāhā (To you who sees us, hail! To the Successful one hail! To the Great Successful one hail! To the Successful Lord of the yogis, hail!) Nīlakanthāya svāhā varāha-mukhāya svāhā narasimha-mukhāya svāha (To the Blue-necked one (Nīlakantha) hail! To the Boar-faced One hail! To Man-Lion faced One hail!) Gadā-hastāya svāhā cakra-hastāya svāhā padma-hastāya svāhā (To one who bears the mace (gadā) in his hand, hail! To the holder of discus in his hand, hail! To One who sports a lotus (padma) in his hand, hail!) Nīlakantha-pāndarāya svāhā Mahātali Śankaraya svāhā (To Blue-necked One smeared (with holy ashes), hail! To the mighty auspicious one, hail!) [edit] V. Final Salutation Namo ratna-trayāya Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya svāhā (Adoration to the Triple Gem, adoration to the noble Āvalokiteśvarā (Lord who looks down), the enlightened being, hail!)
I know this law needs to be changed. This is how the courts in Polk County, Livingston Texas incarcerated my brother on a self defense case with circumstantial and false statements... PLEASE! someone what can i do?
Please have a little heart. The death penalty should only be used in the most heinous cases of murder. Too many times new evidence causes death sentences to be set aside.
Please concider this petition. We as American's are vewed by the rest of the world to "do the right thing". The death penalty should indeed reserved for the vicious criminals who take the life of another. Not the person who just so happens to be riding next to them in a car. Please remember we are not our brother's keepers. We can no more control the people around us than we can the terrorist who haunt the world.
my brother was on the other side of the store. and everyone knows for a fact he didn"t pull the trigger. even nancy grace said he may be the only one who of the seven who had any chance at all of not getting the death pealty. how could he possibly have gotten sentenced to die? does not seem quite fair does it?
This law is sentencing a person to death that may just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time without hearing the whole truth.
This medieval and unjust law needs to stop. The DP is barbaric but to kill a person who didn't kill anyone is perverted. Laws are abused but this law is an abuse this is a outright sadistic law that needs stopping now. Anyone with morals knows this is wrong its open to far too many abuses by corrupt officials. Killing is wrong killing people who didn't kill anyone is murder in the 1st degree.
THIS MAN MUST NOT DIE FOR A SIN HE DID NOT COMMIT AND HE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ROTTING IN JAIL. I AM FROM ENGLAND AND WE GOT RID OF CAPITITAL PUNISHMENT DECADES AGO. THE MAN THAT DID THE CRIME FOR THE OFFENCE THAT JEFF WOOD IS STILL BLAMED FOR IN THE EYES OF THE LAW WAS PUT TO DEATH. I AM A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN AND I BEG OF YOU DONT MAKE A MISTAKE WITH JEFF. YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD ONE DAY AND THAT WILL BE FAR WORSE THAN ANYTHING THAN YOU HAVE HAD TO FACE ON EARTH. I A MAGERSTRATE CAN SEE THE FACTS WHY CANT YOU? MAY GOD BLESS YOU JEFF BUT I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE WISDOM TO THOSE WHO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON YOUR LIFE YOURS SINCERELY CHRISTOPHER VAUGHAN (MAGISTRATE) 11 BROUGHTON ROAD BUCKNALL STOKE ON TRENT STAFFORDSHIRE ST2 9JH UNITED KINGDOM
How can you hold one person responsible for what another has done? Put yourself in a situation... would you want a second chance?
There are many innocent people serving long sentences or on death row. Refining this law would allow these innocent people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time to live their lives outside those jails.
This kind of injustice should be eleminated now.We should make our reps.in Austin aware of how we feel.
The death penalty is one thing, but killing innocent people is going too far.
This law is absolutely archaic. How can you hold one person responsible for what another has done? Who is able to fortell the future or gauge the behavior of another? What if it was YOUR son or daughter caught in a situation beyond their control?
Stop this insane law! To kill anyone is a barbaric act; to kill someone who did not directly commit a crime is lower than low and the USA is a better country than that.
The Death Penatly creates more victims and perpetrates the cycle of violence. The only people who believe in this are those who don't understand it's inequities and those who believe that revenge for Murder is acceptable. Even if the person sentenced to death didn't kill anyone. Just who are we punishing and what are we punishing for? One elegant argurment goes like this; the person you are yesterday is not the person you are today. It stands to reason then that the person who commited a crime may not be the person who you punish for the crime. If jail is supposed to be corrective, then what do we do if the correction works? What happens if, for whatever reason, a jail actually accomplishes it's job and makes a new person out of someone. How do we deal with that?
These young boys don't understand what their responsibilities are when they find themselves in a dire situation. I know a young man who came home and said 'have you heard of a women getting beaten up and killed?" His mother and I said 'no'. Luckily the women who was beaten up did not die, but the bully got 40 yrs. because he had priors,unbeknowns to this young man. He was with the bully but did not know much about him. Also did not know to notify the police. Consequently he got 5 yrs in prison because of "Law of Parties" THIS MUST STOP.
It is literally beyond belief that a State, which is bound by the U.S. Consitution including its Bill of Rights, can take the life of a person because of their associations with another accused of a crime - even if it is proven the person was not at the scene, had no prior knowledge of the crime, and had no criminal intent - and even if the other party is acquitted. This is absolutely shameful and inhumane "justice", is totally at odds with the values of American civil liberties and fairness, and has no place in the American judicial system. To the State of Texas: You're a part of the United States of America, and you have agreed to abide by the U.S. Constitution. ACT LIKE IT! (Please note: Although I live in Norway, I'm a U.S. citizen and Massachusetts voter.)
The Law of Parties is unjust - basically its guilt by association & must be repealed. The death penalty is wrong & I cannot sit by idly whilst the lives of innocent people are in the balance.
